. LOTA
By MOSES CHIMFWEMBE –
ZAMBIANS living in South Africa yesterday thronged both the church service and the burial site to pay their last respects to former Chipolopolo striker Dennis Lota.
An emotional send-off characterised Lota’s burial as mourners sung solemn Zambian songs as they put to rest the former Moroka Swallows assistant coach, who died last week on Tuesday.
The late Lota was put to rest at West Park Cemetery in Johannesburg, during a ceremony attended by his widow, children, parents, relatives and other mourners.
Lota died of Malaria at Hellen John hospital in Johannesburg.
According to a statement released yesterday by first secretary at the Zambian mission in Pretoria Patson Chilemba, the burial ceremony commenced with a church service and a sermon delivered by Church of Johannesburg’s Bishop Dulton Adams at 10:00hours.
Lota’s wife, children, his sister Rose and other mourners were joined for the service by his parents, his brother Mike and other siblings, who arrived in South Africa yesterday.
The late football legend’s casket was then carried from the Church alter to the hearse by Moroka Swallows players, who included captain Lefa Tsutsulapa and Lerato Chabangu, accompanied by the grieving family members for the burial procession to West Park Cemetery slight after 11:30 hours.
The Zambian mourners who were clad in national colours sung solemn Zambian songs such as kalombo mwane.
